SI.com: You never brought comedy up as a possibility when we had that chat. How did it come about?

Artest: I never knew I would do that. But all the comedians see you on TV, so I’m dealing with some agents who have the top comedians. One [agent] reached out to me.

SI.com: So that first phone call you got about standing up on stage and being a comedian — what was going through your head?

Artest: I was super nervous. I knew I would do it — I’ll do anything. I’m not afraid of nothing. I was more nervous about [coming] to grips with [the fact that] I’m going to suck, you know? I’m like, “You’re going to be horrible.” And once I knew I was going to be horrible, I was like, “[Expletive] it. Let’s do it.” I was expecting boos.

For more of Artest’s thoughts on his joke-writing process, his acting career, how he thinks his first stand-up gig went, and why he wants to play in the UK, click through and read the full interview. As always, shine on, Ron Artest.